[SOLVED] modprobe b43 causes kernel panic on install medium

Hi,

I'm trying to make a fresh install with the latest install medium. As the subject says, I get kernel panic after installing the firmware (either with b43-fwcutter or just simply copying /lib/firmware/b43 from my existing, up-to-date Arch Linux installation to the install medium) and reloading the b43 module.

Re: [SOLVED] modprobe b43 causes kernel panic on install medium

I experienced kernel panics with the 4311 chipset and b43 while installing some time ago as well. Worked after rebooting into fresh system, installing firmware, reloading b43 (new panic) and rebooting yet again. The panics seemed a bit random, because I managed to actually get wifi up on the live image on the second try (first try also gave panic). Good luck!

Re: [SOLVED] modprobe b43 causes kernel panic on install medium

That's quite similar to what I'm getting. I'm trying to connect through wireless on a 4318 chipset. Installing the firmware with b43-fwcutter and reloading b43 with modprobe makes my screen go "boom" with something that looks like some sort of bluescreen (except it's not blue) and I thought maybe it's a kernel panic, but after googling I'm not so sure. There's no explicit "kernel panic bla bla" line in my console.Here's a part of the output, I'm typing it manually 'cause I can't get a dump on live install (I guess?):

That's it, then it completely freezes and I can only hard-shut it through holding the power button.My chipset is only compatible with b43 and wl, and wl is not present, at least that's what modprobe says when I try to load it. Connecting on the live install seems to be my only way of installing the base system, as I tried installing the base packages through pacman -- with lots of trouble including awk, grep, cat, wget, lots of reading and a usb thumbdrive -- but after all this it still wants to download stuff.

Re: [SOLVED] modprobe b43 causes kernel panic on install medium

Definitely not my issue, also my card is only supported by b43 and wl, the latter being unavailable, Again, I'm on the live install so my options are limited here. I don't have any more ideas... can't config the wireless, can't install core components without connection... What the heck am I supposed to do here? I can't even install the darn base system.

Re: [SOLVED] modprobe b43 causes kernel panic on install medium

R3load. wrote:

Definitely not my issue, also my card is only supported by b43 and wl, the latter being unavailable, Again, I'm on the live install so my options are limited here. I don't have any more ideas... can't config the wireless, can't install core components without connection... What the heck am I supposed to do here? I can't even install the darn base system.

The situation with that particular wifi hardware is a drag, that's understandable. You don't give any reason why you consider the config-parameter I quoted not to be your issue. Why are you certain that it is not?

If you can, you should just wait to do the install when you have ethernet available again. Once you have installed and updated the base system, it is your choice to either create a custom kernel with that b43 extra parameter set or use the broadcom-wl driver from aur. You could also prepare the wl for the install medium kernel, but that is fiddly too. In case you continue your path to install over wifi and need help, do open a new thread including specific info about your hardware.

One can't really expect all wifi hardware to work out of the box with a base linux install. Yet, I would find it understandable, if someone with this particular hardware files a bug against the kernel config. Clearly the parameter is hindering the open-source driver (b43) to work in favour of a binary blob (wl) which is (and can only be) available in aur.

Requiring users to recompile the vanilla kernel to make it work with the standard OSS modules (b43 or for newer hw also the brcmsmac) in favour of a binary blob that cannot be distributed with a base install; that's not acceptable for a linux distro imho.

Re: [SOLVED] modprobe b43 causes kernel panic on install medium

Solved. In the process, In the lsmod output I noticed a mod called b44, which was using the ssb mod or something like that, that's how I found it (with grep). I removed it and it allowed me to re-load b43 without the crash.

Re: [SOLVED] modprobe b43 causes kernel panic on install medium

Interesting, never read of such an interference (by b44 / ethernet). So that extra kernel parameter is not needed for all cards apparently, which is good news too. Anyway, great find; have fun customizing your install! If it turns out that you have to blacklist that module after updating to use b43, consider adding a note quoting your exact wifi card model to the broadcom wiki here.